Apple Abandoning Headphone Jack Suddenly Makes Perfect Sense

Where there’s smoke it is said there’s fire, and the rumours that
Apple will ditch the headphone jack (starting with the iPhone 7) refuse to go away. In fact having first started 18 months ago, this week the rumours have intensified as new leaks build a compelling case for a headphone jack-less Apple world…

Both The Verge and AppleInsider note multiple sources at Japan’s Portable Audio Festival are reporting Apple is in discussions to add high resolution streaming audio to Apple Music in 2016. The reports claim Apple wants to implement 96kHz / 24-bit music streaming and is in deep discussions with headphone makers - and here’s the interesting part: the high res audio is specifically designed for use with headphones featuring Lightning connectors.

And now you’re ahead of me: Apple would be in its familiar position of being able to take something away (the jack) by giving something more (high res audio). Apple loves this tactic. A focus on FireWire allowed it to dump the floppy disk and this year a focus on USB Type-C gave it (perhaps dubious) grounds to remove every other port type on the 12-inch MacBook.

But why would Apple want to abandon the headphone jack? After all, as a variation of the original phono connector which has been around since 1878, it is the oldest common technology standard still in use today. The answer is simple: practicality and profit.

On the practical side, Apple would be able to do away with the largest and deepest connector it uses. This would free up space for it to fit either in a larger battery or (given past attempts to cut the width of the receptor) allow it to make even thinner products. Furthermore it would open the doors to making a device like the iPhone 7 waterproof.

Needless to say, this also comes at a time when Apple has stepped up its marketing of Lightning headphones. JBL,
Philips and yes, Beats are all now selling Lightning headphones which are being heavily promoted in Apple stores. A great deal of marketing was also thrown behind the debut of Audeze’s $799.95 EL-8 Titanium Lightning headphones earlier this month. Clearly Lightning is being positioned as the high quality option.

The (Deliberate?) Flaw

Of course those serious about their audio will spot a flaw in this logic: the headphone jack is a standard which already supports high resolution audio. That’s true, but it also misses a crucial point: Apple’s business logic.

Audeze EL-8 Titanium Lightning headphones. Image credit: Audeze

Without the headphone jack Apple gains greater control over how audio is consumed on all its devices. Lightning is a proprietary standard, so it can charge all headphone makers licensing fees meanwhile it can champion the greater power delivery of Lightning (it can support integrated DACs, for example) and smart functionality (a digital connection could be programmed to offer specific functionality based on the time, location, etc that a pair of Lightning headphones is connected. Apple can avoid looking overly controlling as it can still point to Bluetooth.

Ultimately if it ditches the headphone jack, Apple also gets a great new way to hold onto customers. Users will need to think twice about leaving the Mac OS/iOS ecosystem if it entails them investing in a new pair of premium headphones. Meanwhile I’m sure a simple 3.5mm to Lightning adaptor will welcome those with standard headphones into the Apple world.

What about charging? Again this opens the door for Apple to offer another trade: wireless charging. Throw wireless charging (optional accessory alert), waterproofing, high res audio and thinness/battery benefits at consumers in exchange for them giving up the headphone jack and the majority may well come around to the idea.

I have been sceptical that Apple would abandon the headphone jack as quickly as the iPhone 7, but as the puzzle comes together it makes ever more sense. Furthermore, even if the iPhone 7 ultimately escapes this port cull, I’ll bet it will only be a temporary reprieve. Apple has the headphone jack’s demise in its sights and very little escapes Cupertino crosshairs…